What’s the difference between therapy and coaching?

Psychotherapy generally deals with people who have emotional/behavioural problems and disruptive situations. It seeks to bring the client to normal function by focusing on dysfunction. The primary focus is on healing.

Coaching, on the other hand, deals with functional people who want to move toward higher function and achieve excellence, while creating an extraordinary life. The primary focus is on evolving a manifestation of potential. Healing is often a side effect.

Additionally, the expectations and focus the client brings to the professional relationship sets the context as coaching or as therapy.

In simple terms, most forms of therapy, including counselling, focus on ‘what has happened’. They are concerned with ‘the problem’ and with regaining mental balance and perspective. Coaching focuses on what is possible. It is future focused, action oriented and supportive in helping clients move towards their goals.

what does it feel like to be coached?

 Exciting, intense and powerful – yet safe, confidential and supportive. It can feel strange at first to have the focus of a conversation on yourself and your life situations. As you commit to new actions and set yourself new compelling goals you will feel determined and purposeful. Confidence and self-belief benefit from your new achievements. 

what will we cover in coaching?

Many of my clients opt to use their first early sessions to discover and understand their life values.

Clients often tell me that these two initial values sessions were the foundation to all the positive change they achieved afterwards. What you learn about yourself in these sessions can help place so much else in context. It can explain your lack of ease and comfort in certain situations, and it can help you plan a meaningful, and satisfying future.